Sebastian Evans

When I qualified from Liverpool Dental School in 1979, my expectation as an associate for remuneration was 50% of fees after the deduction of laboratory costs. This had been – and remained – the industry norm for quite a few years to come. An even higher percentage was available in areas where people were less…

An exploratory study led by Professor Lucilla Poston of King’s College London has shown that women going into early pre-term labour have low levels of progesterone in their saliva as early as 24 weeks of gestation, and that these levels fail to rise during pregnancy in the normal way. This offers the possibility of developing…

IntroductionImplant restorations can fail biologically or mechanically. Mechanical failures include crown fractures, framework fractures, retention problems, screw loosening and screw fracture. A recent study has shown that, over a five-year period, the incidence of abutment screw fracture is 3.9% and abutment screw loosening is 6.7%[1]. The causes of loosening and fracture are tightening to the…

Dental disease may be a warning that your diet is harming your body. Research suggests that dental pain may be flagging up future medical problems and provide a warning that a high glycaemic diet that lead to dental problems in the short term may, in the long term, lead to potentially serious chronic diseases. The…

Students are being invited to enter a talent show in order to raise awareness for mouth cancer. The Mouth Cancer Foundation charity is launching the second Mouth Cancer Voice Awards. In an effort to raise awareness, the Foundation is scouring the country searching for the brightest young stars.  A casting day is being held on…

Scientists have scooped a major cash prize for a project set to bring relief to thousands of denture wearers. According to the most recent adult dental survey, 28% of the UK population wears dentures, and a quarter of these are likely to develop denture stomatitis or fungal induced stomatitis (mainly Candida albicans), commonly known as…

New research published in the Journal of Dental Research suggests that oral bacteria may contribute to the development of obesity. With the inflammatory nature of obesity being widely recognised, researchers in Boston and Brazil joined forces to investigate whether the so-called obesity epidemic could be caused by an oral bacterial disease. The study measured salivary…

While I was reading a copy of the Steele Report, phrases such as ‘patient pathway’, ‘oral health assessment’ and ‘clinical guidelines’ rang a bell. I had been writing them nearly 10 years ago while helping to draft the Options for Change report. Indeed Jimmy Steele acknowledges that several of his recommendations have appeared in previous…

Dental appointments and eye tests are being put off to save money, research suggests. An online poll revealed 46% ignore cracked teeth and lost fillings and 13% do DIY repairs on their broken glasses to avoid bills. Just over two-fifths of those surveyed avoid regular dental and eye check-ups to save money and 4% resorted…

Rinsing with an essential oil mouthwash reduces the levels of germs that travel from the mouth to the bloodstream – so preventing the spread of infection. That’s the finding of US Professor Daniel Fine, who presented his clinical evidence at Europerio 6 in Sweden last month. He suggests that the mouthwash can provide a vital…

It sometimes seems to me that here in the UK we are in real danger of losing the plot. Or, if I am honest, it regularly seems to me that we lost the plot some time ago – and are in real danger of not being able to remember what it looked like when we…

The General Dental Council (GDC) is an outward-looking regulator with a real focus on customer service, a clear commitment to continuous improvement, and a willingness to innovate. That’s according to the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE), the watchdog for healthcare regulators.  In its review of the GDC, it said the council has demonstrated ‘excellence…

Toddlers given syrup containing the naturally occurring sweetener xylitol may be less likely to develop decay in their baby teeth, a new study suggests. Xylitol has been shown to effectively prevent tooth decay by inhibiting the growth of bacteria that cause cavities. These previous studies have primarily involved chewing gum or lozenges used in school-age…

A new online training course aimed at helping the dental team advise patients on oral health care has been launched. The new ‘bitesize’ course – from the British Dental Association (BDA) – qualifies dental care professionals (DCPs) to advise patients on oral health. Over a period of eight weeks, the Oral Health Education for Dental…

Professor Jimmy Steele took the stage to address an expectant Local Dental Committee (LDC) Conference last month. But despite the applause that greeted many parts of his talk – delivered in the run-up to the official release of his review into NHS dentistry – the mood was one of decidedly cautious optimism. Privately, many dentists…

Dr Charles Mayo, founder of the Mayo Clinic, said in 1934: ‘It is the little things like infected teeth and tonsils, for instance, that cause most of our serious ailments’. In the past I have written about seeing ourselves as doctors of the oral cavity. I believe we owe it to our patients to provide…

Many of the techniques and modalities used by dental hygienists have evolved over the years. However, coronal tooth polishing has remained a staple of the dental hygiene appointment, even though its use has been controversial since the 1970s. Patients have come to expect polishing as a necessary part of the dental appointment (Daniel SJ et…